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One little caveat based on my own experience, which is admittedly quite limited as I only bought one in recent months. I have the comfort lead fitted to my battery, and as mentioned above the ability to unplug and drive away really is so handy (and handier than you might think until you actually have one and do it a few times); and as has been mentioned, the unit itself seems to be clever enough to remember that it is set for a car battery, and it then seems to decide what it wants to do based on the charge current being drawn when it is plugged in.

My unit lives in our outhouse/utility room with the extended cable running out through a gap in the door frame, and then out of a gated alleyway into the driveway and to the car. Just prior to Christmas, there was a couple of occasions that I went into the outhouse and could hear and extremely high pitched noise, but could not pinpoint it initially - after a few attempts, I tracked it down to the CTEK (in my defence it was placed next to the washing machine and tumble dryer......) - - the noise was the switched mode power supply within the unit chattering away, and when I plugged the car in and it was under load there was no noise. I suspect that the noise was from the capacitors within, so there may be the potential for shortening the units life if left plugged in and not in use. Also, don't forget the fire risks with any appliance that is plugged in and unattended.

However, my cars battery is only away from its juice for part of a day on most occasions.

Any overnight jaunt does have me turn it off and in summer/warmer months, it's never connected.

Perhaps I'm a tad too blasé about leaving it plugged in and likening it to phone chargers, etc, etc.

There is also the one other problem, dimwittedness, starting and driving off with it plugged in.

Thankfully my OCD routine has saved me from this so far.

"Why is the boot lid open" ? says she.

I hadn't gone very far.........................................honest .

A very cynical grumpy old man
Late 2004 2.7D auto
Connoisseur of Fine Ales
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - What a ride, where are the wimmin?"

I think we are all a bit blasé about leaving chargers on, and I think that this is part of the reason that they are wanting smart meters in place - when they start charging for apparent power, leaving that charger plugged in with nothing charging will be costing you money (and in turn, making more profits for the thieves..... I mean, energy companies :coughs:

At this time of year I put my CTEK in the boot and connect it using their quick connector. My pref is using the Charge/Recon setting. Love the idea of just plugging it in and not having to check on it. Old fashioned chargers could actually cause the battery to almost boil or at least ruin the plates.

Regarding the high pitched whine. Id send off an email to CTEK and ask them about it. Does not sound normal to me.

2003 Zircon Blue XKR Convertible.It's in the detail.
To see index of "Franks Story" up to 8th March 2017 Please Click Here. Thanks!